Piston seal



April 1f, 1952 J. v. BERTRAND PISTON SEAL Filed Jan. 6, 1949 JNVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 VPISTQN SEAL Joseph V. Bertrand, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Hydropress, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a

corporation off Delaware Application January 6, 1949, Serial No. 69, 587

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a sealing arrangement for a reciprocable piston operating in a cylinder `and particularly a cylinder wherein high pressures are involved.

The problem of adequately sealing a reciprocable piston in a vessel wherein pressures in the range of 26,000 to 36,000 lbs. per square inch are 'involved is diflicult. Under `such pressures, the elements of `thecylincler expand and highstresses are fplacedon various parts of the mechanism.

`One of theobjects-of the present invention is to provide a sealing arrangement for a reciprocable plunger which will prevent leakage under -high lpressure conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an rarrangement whereby there will `be a constant frictional resistance maintained between the sealing `ring and `a'icylinder `wall for all conditions of .pressurewithin thecylinder.

One of the featuresof the invention is the use of -a continuous or solid piston ring in conjunction with a piston, the ring and piston being arranged in `relation to each other so that the ring preferably is in a prestressed condition when assembled in the cylinder before the cylinder is subjected Vto high pressure. In addition to this, means canbe provid-ed to utilize `the pressure dif- `ferential vbetween the two sides of the piston to assist in forcing the `piston ring against the cylinder wall whether prestressed or not, this feature being particularly important when the cyl- `inder is expanded dueto high pressure.

vIn one aspect of the invention,` one or more auxiliary'porous metal rings may be used on the pistonon 'eitherside of-themain prestressed seali ing ring. Theporous rings may be made of porous `metal so vthat the-pressure will be balanced onea'ch side thereof, the pressure being balanced because of the porosity of the ring. The main ypiston ring also may be made cf a porous metal.

When a continuous or solid piston ring is used, a resilient ring may be used inback Vthereof and subjected -to high pressure without'dangerof the .resilient `ring squeezing through the split portion of `a split ring The vloss of pressure by leakage due to expansion between the vwall and piston ring is prevented by the use of the arrangement of the present invention.

In another aspect of the invention, a `solid porous Aring is `contemplated with means leading a high pressure lfluid behind the ring in its piston groovevso tha-t vthe pressure will .balance any rleakage-tending to take `place past the piston-ring.

Another featureof the invention Yis therelatu ing ofv radial thickness and other dimensions of `the ring rand the 'material thereof, so that the ring Will-expand Vor contract the Asame 'amount as the -walls of the cylinder bore, Vthe walls -of the cylinder bore'expandingor contractingin-accord- -ance with the pressure in the interior of the Vcyl-- kept constant, the leakage thus willbe-contro'lled..

and if desired, taken into account in the #operation of the device or cylinder.

rThese and other objects, advantages and `features of the invention will become apparent from the `following descriptionand drawings.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partially 1in section showing one formof piston sealing tarrangement.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view `partially in section of another form of the invention.

Figure -3 is an enlarged 'view of the sealing ringl of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentaiy `View partially in section of a modified formof theinvention.

In Figure l, the cylinder walls IIJ canlformpart of an apparatus which -is to be `used under 'high pressure conditions. Piston `rod or'pull rod Ifl `is connected to a piston I2. Ai piston disc `I3 or flange is held inplace on the piston I2 by Vmeans of a screw-threaded ring I4, said ring having a set screw I5 to lock thesame in place. Therpiston disc I3 holds seal or piston `ring I6 inlposition on the piston. Rod I'IA is `held -in placeby the engagement of screw-threaded collar T36 with nut 31 fastened onto the end of rod I IA.

Continuous piston ring I6 preferably is made slightly larger than the normal internal diameter of the cylinder when the cylinder is subjected to high pressure; The ring is thus vin 9. 'prestressed or compressed condition when the cylinder-is not subjected to pressure becauseo'f 'the compressive stress exertedthereon due todimensional differences. Upon expansion of the cylinder due to pressure and/or'heat, '-the ring Will 'still tightly engage the Walls as the `piston reciprubber or any other similar non-metallic substance. Said resilient ring I1 also may be made of a suitable resilient metallic material.

Y An internal ring or spacer I8 of any suitable material can be inserted on the piston I2. passageway or conduit I9 isv formed in flange I3 connecting with an annular groove out on the inside face of flange I3 for the purpose of leading pressure from the space on one side of the plunger into the space 2| back of resilient ring I1, and between said ring spacer I8. It is to be understood that spacer ring I8 can :be replaced by other equivalent means such as a shoulder on piston I2 limiting the downward movement of disc I3 relative to the piston I2.

Auxiliary split rings 22 may be of a porous metal so as to prevent the building up of pressure behind said rings. The porous metal ring can be formed by powder metallurgy techniques. The porous metal will allow the free flow of fluid through the ring but will prevent dirt or other extraneous material from passing through the ring into the space in the groove behind the same.

A second form of seal arrangement is seen in Figure 2 wherein the cylinder Vwalls 23 have a piston 24 reciprocable relative thereto. Pull or piston rod 25 has nut 38 cooperating with shoul- `der 39 for holding the .parts in assembled relationship. The metal seal or piston ring 29 may be made with an outside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cylinder 23 when the apparatus is at rest so that the ring will be under a prestressed condition when assembled therewith. Resilient ring 30 (Figs. 2, 3) is mounted inside of metal sealing ring 29 in the space between the two discs 21 and 28. -Ring 30 has pressure led thereto from one side of the piston through passages 3I and 32.

A second ring 33 may be mounted in such a position as to seal the passageway along the extension 34 of the piston and -pull rod arrangement. As the cylinder expands under pressure, the prestressed condition of the piston ring will permit a proper seal to be maintained..

It is to be understood that the solid ring may be of the same diameter as the cylinder bore and the pressure on the resilient ring depended upon for forcing the solid ring outwardly to seal the piston relative to the cylinder.

In another form of the invention, piston elements 40, 4I (Fig. 4) may be mounted on pull rod 42.- A solid porous metal piston ring 43 may be mounted in groove 44 formed between elements 40, 4I,v said Vring contacting the walls of cylinder 45. Av source of iuid is led through passage 46 to passage 41 through spacer 48. The

. iiuid preferably is of such a pressure as to ll the pores of the ring 43 and prevent leakage of fluid in the vessel past said ring. The secondary fluid may be for example, a petroleum jelly or simil-ar high viscosity substance. Such an arrangement also will serve to lubricate the piston. The secondary fluid may be led in various manners to the space behind the porous ring.

Itis possible to arrange thepiston ring so that there will be a constant frictional resistance by making the ring of the proper material and thickness.

If a is considered to be the radius of the cylinder bore, and b the outside radius of the cylinder, then the radial deformation of the bore Aaa be cause of internal pressure in the cylinder is:

where V=Poissons ratio E=modulus of elasticity Then letting ar=outside radius of the piston ring, C the inside radius of the ring, then the deformation Aar of the outside radius of the ring is:

ar 202 2f In order for a constant contact pressure to exist between the outside face of the ring and the inside wall of the cylinder under varying pressure, the pressure P being the same for both cylinder and ring, it is apparent that Aaa must equal Aar. x

From examination of Formulae 1 and 2 it is seen that each has a constant polynomial factor dependent upon material involved and dimensions. E and V will be constant as will be the v radius for each element concerned. Simplifying l and 2 In order for Acc to equal Aar for all values of P, A must equal B, these latter being independent of pressure.

In establishing factor B we must also take into consideration that the outside radius of the ring must b e slightly larger than the radius or the bore of the cylinder before assembly of the pores. The amount of the interference determines the amount of contact pressure between the outside diameter of the ring and the inside diameter of the cylinder when internal pressure is applied. With the aforementioned analysis, it has been estimated that if both the ring and cylinder are made of a material having a modulus of elasticity of 30,000,000 p. s..i'. a Poissons ratio of .26, the outside diameter of the cylinder 141/2" and the inside diameter=6", the radial thickness Y v the combination including a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in'said cylinder, said piston having a plurality of grooves, a metal continuous seal v ring in one of said grooves, said ring having a' normal exterior diameter greater than said piston and'cylinder when said cylinder is not subjected to pressure so that said ring is prestressed, a conduit connected to said groove Vleading pressure from one side of said piston to said groove adapted to force said ring outwardly in tight engagement with a cylinder wall as said wall ex-V pands under pressure, and a porous metal ring in another of said grooves spaced from said iirst mentioned groove. Y Y

2. In a high pressure piston seal arrangement, the combination including a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston disc mountable on said piston, a spacer ring between said piston and piston disc, a metal continuous seal ring carried between said piston and disc, said seal Vring having abnormal greater outside dii ameter than the cylinder bore when the piston is not subjected to pressure so that said ring is in prestressed condition, a resilient ring inside of said seal ring between said piston and disc, and conduit means adapted to lead pressure from one side of said piston to an annular space at the inner face of said resilient ring, whereby the seal ring is maintained in close contact with' a cylinder in which said piston is adapted to Yoperate, said seal ring normal outside diameter being dimensioned relative to said cylinder to maintain said contact.

3. In a high pressure piston seal arrangement, the combination including a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, said piston having a groove therein, a metal continuous annular seal ring carried in said groove of said ring, said seal ring having a normal greater outside diameter than the bore of said cylinder when the piston is not subjected to pressure so that said ring is in prestressed condition and conduit means con- 20 nesting the space at the inner face of said resilient ring with the pressure on one side of said piston, the radial thickness and modulus of elasticity of said piston ring being chosen so that the pressure exerted on said inner face and said cylinder wall will result in substantially equal increments of radius change of said ring and cylinder' as pressure is applied in said cylinder.

JOSEPH V. BERTRAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,380 See Jan. 27, 1885 831,603 Davis Sept. 25, 1906 2,213,523 Jones et al Sept. 3, 1940 2,219,095 Schuttler Oct. 22, 1940 

